The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-23
SATURDAY, APRIL 16.

The mornings devotional exercises
were conducted by Mrs. Glib. Prof.
Standish gave the review and criticisms
as on previous mornings. The subject of
The Conference Meeting
came up in regular order for discussion.
s. H. Robin, of Bay City, who was to
present the paper, was not present at
this session. The Institute resolved
itself into conversational meeting,
with the topic under consideration.
James Gorton advised that such meet
ing be held with as little formality as
possible. G. G. Conner was invited to
explain his system of Bible readings
which had been successful in Spring
field. He had found that a special
theme was successful in interesting the
people in the week day meetings. L.
w. Brigham spoke of successful con-
ference meeting at Hoopeston, ILL.,,
where the people conducted it in the
absence of regular pastor. 7. w.
Critchett had succeeded in eliciting in
terest by announcing the subject, and
getting his people to select illustrative
passages. Charles Conklin always held
a conference and prayer meeting, and
found it helpful to the spiritual life of
the parish. Mrs. Glib could not an
nounce the subject before hand-it was
left to the movings of the spirit. Mrs.
Danforth and others spoke.
The Sunday-school Work
was considered at this session. Miss
Kollock and Frank McAlpine, of Mich
igan, presented papers, the first on the
work in general, and the second on
"Ideal Sunday-school Methods" We
find ourselves unable to present even
outlines of these papers.
A Business Session
followed with reference to the next
session of the Institute. A Committee
consisting of Revs. Amos Crum, G. FL
wood Nash, and l.. III Squires, were
appointed. 1t was subsequently agreed
that the Institute should hold its next
biennial session, beginning on the
Wednesday evening following the first
Sunday in May, 1889, the place to be
selected by the committee hereafter.
A. H. Laing, of Joliet, ILL.,, read the
paper on Especial Methods for Spiritual
Awakening" given on first page. After
the reading brief discussion was held.
The drift of the discussion was en-
phatically in favor of holding such
meetings. Questions of time and place,
assistance at such meetings, the utility
of the enquiry meeting, ETC., were sub
mitted. 1t was suggested that these
meetings should be held at stated inter
walls by the pastor, with not more than
one or two ministers to help him. Let
there be no sermon; but plain, practi-
cal talk about personal religious obliga-
lions.
Saturday Afternoon
was devoted to paper by Jacob Straub,
of Marseilles, ILL.,, on the Natural His
tory of the Human Mind" and an in
formal talk by President White on
"Theism." The services for the week
closed at 4:9O with about thirty pastors
in attendance.
Members Present.
j. Coleman Adams, A. n Alcott, L. NJ.
w. S. Balch, d. D., G. F. Barnes,
B. L. Bennett, L. W. Brigham, B. Drumming,
Il. L. Garfield, II. L. Garfield, jr., j. S.
Cantwell, d. D., Augusta J. Chaplin, E. H.
Chaplin, Mary T. Clark, W. W. Clayton, Chas.
Conklin, G. @. Conner, o. Gone, ID. D., S.
Crane, d. D., t. W. Oritchett, Amos Crum,
Abbie E. Danforth, Mary j. belong, W.
F. Dickerman, L. j. Dinsmore, /. A. Eber-
mart, Mary Garard, S. F. Glib, Sophie Glib.
W. L. Gibbs, James Gorton, j. A. Hoyt,
Florence E. Kollock, A. II. Laing, E. Leav-